CAREER: Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Dictyostelium discoideum Developmental Regulator FbxA -- A Strategy for Integrating Research and Teaching

职业：盘基网柄菌发育调节因子 FbxA 的分子遗传学分析——研究与教学相结合的策略

• 批准号: 9985265
• 负责人: Margaret Nelson
• 金额: $ 27.92万
• 依托单位: Allegheny College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-05-01 至 2006-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9985265&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Molecular; Genetic; Analysis; Dictyostelium

This project describes a strategy for integrating research and teaching in the undergraduate Biology curriculum at Allegheny College. The research interests of the PI, Dr. Margaret K. Nelson, focus on understanding the mechanisms by which distinct cell fates are established and maintained over the course of development. She uses the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum as her experimental system. Dr. Nelson's analysis of FbxA, a protein that regulates several aspects of development, has three specific aims: 1) to identify of the signaling pathway(s) regulated by FbxA, 2) to characterize FbxA structure, function, and transcriptional regulation, and 3) to use Dictyostelium as a vehicle for incorporating investigative labwork at the introductory undergraduate level. FbxA is a member of a family of proteins that regulate developmental signaling pathways via targeted protein degradation. Identifying the targets of FbxA-mediated degradation is a crucial step in determining which developmental pathways FbxA regulates. Two parallel approaches will be employed to achieve this goal. FbxA itself will also be more completely characterized, via determination of its cell type-specific roles, creation of a dominant-negative allele, and promoter analysis. The importance of targeted protein degradation as a developmental regulatory mechanism is only now being realized. More detailed analysis of FbxA and the pathway(s) it regulates is likely to make a significant contribution to this growing field. This CAREER project illustrates how Dictyostelium, which is both student-accessible and amenable to sophisticated molecular genetic analysis, can be used to integrate research into courses at all levels of the curriculum. Through its junior seminar and senior project requirements, the Allegheny Biology Department has a long history of successfully involving undergraduates in independent research. This award supports the use of Dictyostelium in a new laboratory course, Biology 290: Investigative Approaches in Biology, making research training an integral part of the introductory curriculum. Students will work in small groups to design and execute independent experiments. Assistance with experimental design and interpretation will be provided as part of a weekly discussion section. Student projects will culminate in written and oral presentations. This proposal describes several related sets of four-week modules, incorporating research questions raised by investigations of FbxA and introducing students to a variety of techniques.

该项目描述了一个战略，整合研究和教学在本科生物课程在阿勒格尼学院。PI的研究兴趣，Margaret K.纳尔逊，重点是了解不同的细胞命运的建立和维持在发展过程中的机制。 她使用细胞黏菌Dictyosteelium discoideum作为她的实验系统。 纳尔逊博士对FbxA（一种调节发育几个方面的蛋白质）的分析有三个具体目标：1）鉴定FbxA调节的信号通路，2）表征FbxA的结构、功能和转录调节，3）使用网骨藻作为在本科入门阶段纳入研究性实验室工作的工具。 FbxA是通过靶向蛋白质降解调节发育信号传导途径的蛋白质家族的成员。 确定FbxA介导的降解靶点是确定FbxA调节哪些发育途径的关键步骤。 为实现这一目标，将采用两种并行的办法。 FbxA本身也将通过确定其细胞类型特异性作用、产生显性负等位基因和启动子分析来更完整地表征。 靶向蛋白质降解作为发育调节机制的重要性现在才被认识到。 对FbxA及其调控途径的更详细分析可能会对这一不断发展的领域做出重大贡献。这个CAREER项目说明了如何Dictyosteoblastoma，这是学生访问和服从复杂的分子遗传分析，可以用来整合研究到各级课程的课程。 通过其初级研讨会和高级项目的要求，阿勒格尼生物系有着悠久的历史，成功地让本科生参与独立研究。该奖项支持在一个新的实验室课程，生物学290：在生物学调查方法中使用Dictyosteoblasts，使研究培训的入门课程的一个组成部分。 学生将在小组工作，设计和执行独立的实验。 协助实验设计和解释将作为每周讨论部分的一部分提供。 学生的项目将在书面和口头报告中达到高潮。该提案描述了几组相关的为期四周的模块，结合FbxA调查提出的研究问题，并向学生介绍各种技术。